Hayom Yom 21 Adar 1 - The title Chossid in Chabad

שֵׁם חָסִיד

The title “chassid”

הוּא שֵׁם קָדוּם הַנִּמְצָא בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה

is an ancient term found in the words of our Sages

גַּם עַל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן (עֵרוּבִין יח בּ)

and refers even to Adam, the first man. (Eruvin 18b),

וְהוּא תּוֹאַר הַשְּׁלֵמוּת וְהַהַפְלָגָה אִם בְּשֵׂכֶל אוֹ בְּמִדּוֹת אוֹ בִּשְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּיו

It denotes a person of perfection and distinction in his intellectual attainments or in his character attributes, or in both these qualities combined.

אָמְנָם בְּתוֹרַת חֲסִידוּת חַבַּ"ד תּוֹאַר חָסִיד הוּא

Within the teachings of Chabad Chassidus, the description “chassid” refers to

מִי שֶׁמַּכִּיר מְהוּתוֹ הָעַצְמִי

one who recognizes his essential nature,

וּמַעֲמָדוֹ בִּידִיעַת הַתּוֹרָה וְלִמּוּדָהּ

his level of Torah knowledge and study,

וּמַצָּבוֹ בְּקִיּוּם הַמִּצְוֹת

and his status in the observance of the mitzvos.

יוֹדֵעַ הוּא מַה שֶׁחָסֵר לוֹ וְנוֹתֵן לֵב וְדוֹאֵג לְמַלֹּאוֹת אֶת הֶחָסֵר

He knows what he is lacking and shows attention and concern to fulfill it.

וּמַרְבֶּה בְּמִשְׁמַעַת בְּדֶרֶךְ קַבָּלַת עוֹל

And he shows great discipline in yoking himself [to his mission].

Hayom Yom 21 Adar Sheni - The Alter Rebbe gave it to all who study Chassidus

הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק אָמַר בְּסִיּוּם סִפּוּר הַנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל (כ' אֲדָר שֵׁנִי)

After relaying the narration that appears in the entry for 20 Adar II above, the Tzemach Tzedek said:

זְקֵנִי — רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן — הוּא מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ דְּתוֹרַת חֲסִידוּת חַבַּ"ד

“My grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, was the Moshe Rabbeinu of the teachings of Chabad Chassidus.

בְּמֹשֶׁה אָמְרוּ רַזַ"ל שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה נִתְּנָה לוֹ, אֶלָּא שֶׁנָּהַג בָּהּ טוּב עַיִן

With regard to Moshe, our Sages said: ‘The Torah was given to him, but he was generous [and gave it to the entire Jewish people].’

אֵשׁ תָּמִיד הָאֱלֹקִי הַנּוֹגֵעַ לְתוֹרַת חֲסִידוּת חַבַּ"ד נָתַן הָרַב הַמַּגִּיד לִזְקֵנִי

The Maggid [of Mezritch] gave my grandfather the constant Divine fire of the teachings of Chassidus Chabad.

וּזְקֵנִי נָהַג בָּהּ טוּב עַיִן וַיִּתְּנָהּ לְכָל הָעוֹסְקִים בְּתוֹרַת הַחֲסִידוּת

My grandfather was generous with it and gave it to all those whose study Chassidus.

בָּרוּר לִי אֲשֶׁר כָּל הַלּוֹמֵד עִם חֲבֵרוֹ וּמְעוֹרֵר בּוֹ אֶת הָאֵשׁ תָּמִיד הָאֱלֹקִי

“It is clear to me that whoever teaches a fellow Jew and arouses in him the constant G‑dly fire

הִנֵּה שְׂכָרוֹ אִתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר זְכוּתוֹ זֶה לֹא תִכְבֶּה לָעַד

will receive his just reward; his merit will never be extinguished.”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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